Food preparation appliance for use with a remote communication device

ABSTRACT

One example food preparation appliance includes a base having a motor and an adaptor, a weight sensor coupled to the adaptor, and a communication component. The adaptor is configured to support a food preparation accessory. The weight sensor is configured to detect a weight applied to the adaptor. The communication component is configured to transmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor. An example remote communication device includes a display device, a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor. The remote communication device is configured to display a first instruction on the display device, the first instruction including a first target weight of a first substance; receive a measurement from a food preparation appliance indicative of a weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparation appliance; and display a second instruction when the weight is substantially equal to the first target weight.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/657,439, filed on Mar. 13, 2015, titled FOOD PREPARATION APPLIANCEFOR USE WITH A REMOTE COMMUNICATION DEVICE, which claims priority toU.S. Application No. 61/953,073, titled FOOD PREPARATION APPLIANCE FORUSE WITH A REMOTE COMMUNICATION DEVICE, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to food preparation appliances.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to kitchen appliances,such as blenders, mixers, food processors, and scales, and portableelectronic devices, such as mobile phones, portable computers, tabletcomputers, personal digital assistants, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Food preparation appliances, such as food processors, mixers, blenders,and the like, are often used with ingredients that may need to beweighed and/or measured for use in, for example, a recipe. A user mayseparately measure and/or weigh ingredients using a scale or measuringcups. Some food preparation appliances include measurement markingslocated on containers to reduce the need for separately measuringingredients. Often, such markings are difficult to see and/or to read.Moreover, it may be difficult to use the markings when more than oneingredient needs to be added. The difficulty of using the measurementmarkings on the containers may lead to a user adding an inaccurateamount of an ingredient to the container or unnecessarily using aseparate measurement device.

Food preparation appliances sometimes include a display for providinglimited information to a user of the appliance. For example, the displaymay indicate the speed at which the device is operating. The display maybe an electronic display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or aseries of one or more indicator lights, or a physical display, such asspeed markings beside a control lever and/or selection buttons. Suchdisplays may, however, provide limited information to a user of theappliance and require a user to be close to the appliance, i.e., closeenough to read the display, to receive any information from theappliance.

It may be advantageous to provide a user with systems, methods, andcomputer-readable media to provide information to a user of a foodpreparation appliance locally and or remotely, and/or to help a usermore easily determine an amount of an ingredient in a container of akitchen appliance.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a food preparation appliancehas a base and a weight sensor. The base of the food preparationappliance includes a motor and an adaptor, where the adaptor isconfigured to support a food preparation accessory. The weight sensor iscoupled to the adaptor and configured to detect a weight applied to theadaptor.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a food preparation appliancehas a base, a weight sensor, and a communication component. The base ofthe food preparation appliance includes a motor and is configured tosupport a food preparation accessory. The weight sensor is coupled tothe base and is configured to detect a weight applied to the foodpreparation accessory. The communication component is configured totransmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor toa remote communication device.

Another aspect of the disclosure is a food preparation appliance fortransmitting data associated with a weight to a remote communicationdevice. The food preparation appliance has a base. The base has a motorand an adaptor. The adaptor is configured to support a food preparationaccessory. The food preparation appliance also includes a processorcoupled to a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to receive a signal proportionalto the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance,determine the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparationappliance based, at least in part, on the signal, and transmit anindication of the weight to the remote communication device.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a food preparation applianceincludes a base having a motor and an adaptor. The adaptor is configuredto support a food preparation accessory. The food preparation applianceincludes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memorystores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to receive data related to the food preparation appliance, andtransmit the data to a remote communication device.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a food preparation applianceincludes a base having a motor. The base is configured to support a foodpreparation accessory. The food preparation appliance includes aprocessor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory storesinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto receive data related to the food preparation appliance, and transmitthe data to a remote communication device.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure is a remote communication devicefor displaying an instruction. The remote communication device hasdisplay device, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. Thememory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to display a first instruction on the display device. Thefirst instruction includes a first target weight of a first substance.The processor receives a measurement from a food preparation applianceindicative of a weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparationappliance and determines when the weight applied to the adaptor of thefood preparation appliance is substantially equal to the first targetweight. The processor displays a second instruction associated with thefirst instruction when the weight applied to the adaptor of the foodpreparation appliance is substantially equal to the first target weight.

The features, functions, and advantages described herein may be achievedindependently in various implementations described in the presentdisclosure or may be combined in yet other implementations, furtherdetails of which may be seen with reference to the following descriptionand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system having a food preparation appliance and aremote communication device;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary computing system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the food preparation appliance shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is functional block diagram of the exemplary system shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for transmitting dataassociated with a weight;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for displaying aninstruction;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for providinginstructions;

FIG. 8A is an exemplary display on the remote communication device shownin FIG. 1 during an exemplary process for assisting a user in creating afood dish utilizing the food preparation appliance shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8B is another exemplary display;

FIG. 8C is another exemplary display;

FIG. 8D is another exemplary display; and

FIG. 8E is another exemplary display.

Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in somedrawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature ofany drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with anyfeature of any other drawing. Corresponding reference charactersindicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to food preparation appliancesthat communicate with a remote communication device. In someembodiments, a food preparation appliance sends data to the remotecommunication device. Exemplary data that may be sent by the foodpreparation appliance to the remote communication device includes, forexample, the weight of a substance added to the appliance, operationaldata about the appliance (e.g., speed, torque, direction, etc.), andmaintenance and/or error data concerning the food preparation appliance.In some embodiments, the remote communication device may remotelycontrol aspects of the food preparation appliance, such as an on and offoperation of the food preparation appliance through communication withthe food preparation appliance.

More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a food preparationappliance configured to determine a weight applied to a component of thefood preparation appliance and to communicate data associated with theweight to a remote communication device. For example, the foodpreparation appliance may be a blender having a food preparationaccessory, such as a container. The blender includes a scale configuredto weigh the container and contents within the container. The blendercommunicates a signal indicating the weight of the container and/or thecontents within the container to a remote communication device, such asa mobile phone. Alternatively, the blender may communicate a signalindicating the mass of the container and/or the contents within thecontainer to the remote communication device. In either embodiment, theremote communication device displays to the user of the remotecommunication device the weight or the mass indicated by the signal. Theremote communication device may also calculate and display a weight fromthe mass or a mass from the weight. Although some appliance within thescope of this disclosure may measure mass and/or calculate weight, forsimplicity and clarity, the present disclosure will refer to appliances“weighing” or detecting a “weight.”

Additional aspects of the present disclosure relate to interactiveinstructions and/or recipes. In some embodiments, the remotecommunication device receives data associated with the weight applied toa component of the food preparation appliance and provides aninstruction based, at least in part, on the data associated with theweight. For example, a remote communication device, such as a mobilephone, presents a set of instructions for a recipe, such as a bananasmoothie. Each individual instruction may be associated with a specificweight of a substance. For example, a recipe may include instructions toadd 10 ounces of milk and then to add 5 ounces of bananas to a containerof a food preparation appliance, such as a blender. In such an example,the mobile phone presents the first instruction to a user to add 10ounces of milk to the container of the blender. Upon the mobile phonereceiving an indication from the blender that a weight of 10 ounces hasbeen reached, the mobile phone presents the second instruction to theuser to add 5 ounces of bananas to the container of the blender.

In further aspects of the present disclosure, additional data can besent from the food preparation appliance to the remote communicationdevice, such as a temperature of a component of the food preparationappliance or an ingredient added to the food preparation appliance, aspeed of a component of the food preparation appliance, an errormessage, and the like.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary system 100 having a foodpreparation appliance 110, a food preparation accessory 112, a remotecommunication device 114, a network 101, and a data store 102. The foodpreparation appliance 110 is an appliance capable of assisting a user inpreparing food. In the illustrated embodiment, the food preparationappliance 110 is a blender. In other embodiments, the food preparationappliance 110 is an appliance capable of chopping, dicing, cutting,weighing, storing, heating, cooling, and/or maintaining a temperature ofa food item. In additional embodiments, the food preparation appliance110 is a mixer, a food processor, or any food preparation appliancehaving a motor.

A food preparation accessory may be any item capable of being used inconjunction with a food preparation appliance. In the exemplaryembodiment, the food preparation accessory 112 is a blender container.In other embodiments, the food preparation accessory 112 is a bowl, acup, a container, or a pan. In general, the food preparation accessory112 is any item capable of being attached and removed from at least aportion of the food preparation appliance 110. In some embodiments, thefood preparation accessory 112 is an item capable of interacting with amotor (not shown in FIG. 1) of the food preparation appliance 110. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the food preparation accessory 112 is ablender container having multiple blades (not shown) located within thecontainer proximate a bottom of the container. The container isconfigured to attach to a component of the food preparation appliance110 such that the motor may rotate the blades at various speeds based onthe operation of the blender base.

A remote communication device, as used herein, is a device that isseparate from the food preparation appliance 110 and that is capable ofreceiving communication from the food preparation appliance 110. In theexemplary embodiment, the remote communication device 114 is a mobilephone. In other embodiments, the remote communication device 114 is adesktop computer, a tablet computer, a television, a radio, a personaldigital assistance, and/or a pager. Additionally, in some embodiments, aremote communication device is a device specifically dedicated to thefood preparation appliance 110 such that the remote communication deviceis configured to communicate specifically with the food preparationappliance. Although only one remote communication device is shown inFIG. 1, it is contemplated that more than one remote communicationdevice, including different types of remote communication devices, maybe used with system 100.

The food preparation appliance 110 communicates with the remotecommunication device 114 directly and/or by utilizing network 101. Theappliance 110 may communicate directly with the remote communicationdevice 114 using any suitable wired or wireless communication protocol.For example, the food preparation appliance 110 may communicate directlywith the remote communication device using, along with appropriatecommunication protocols, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, aBluetooth® adapter, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a ZigBee® transceiver, a nearfield communication (NFC) transceiver, an infrared (IR) transceiver,and/or any other device capable of communicating directly with remotecommunication device 114. (Bluetooth is a registered trademark ofBluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Wash.; ZigBee is aregistered trademark of the ZigBee Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.) Wiredcommunication between the food preparation appliance 110 and the remotecommunication device may use any suitable wired communication protocolincluding, without limitation, USB, RS232, I2C, SPI, analog, andproprietary I/O protocols.

The network 101 is a communication network. In the exemplary embodiment,the network 101 is a wireless local area network (WLAN). The network 101may be any suitable type of network and/or a combination of networks.The network 101 may be wired or wireless and of any communicationprotocol. The network 101 may include, without limitation, the Internet,a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless LAN(WLAN), a mesh network, a virtual private network (VPN), a cellularnetwork, and/or any other network that allows system 100 to operate asdescribed herein.

The data store 102 is configured to store data associated with the foodpreparation appliance 110, the food preparation accessory 112, and/orthe remote communication device 114. Such data may include, but is notlimited to, measurements, weight data, weights, recipes, types of foodpreparation accessories, type of food items, types of liquids, errormessages, maintenance data, etc. Additionally, the data store isconfigured to store operational data and statistical data. Operationaldata includes data associated with the operation of the food preparationappliance and food preparation accessory. Operational data includes atemperature of a food substance and/or component, a speed of a motor ora component, a voltage, and a weight of a component of the foodpreparation appliance and/or the food preparation accessory. Statisticaldata includes data associated with the function of the food preparationappliance and food preparation accessory, such as hours the appliancehas been operated, number of times cycled on and/or off, error messages,and maintenance data. The data store 102 may also store instructionsand/or recipes for use with the food preparation accessory 112. Althougha single data store 102 is shown in FIG. 1, system 100 may include oneor multiple data stores. The data store 102 may be a standalone datastore (e.g., a part of a server connected to network 101), may belocated within food preparation appliance 110, and/or may be locatedwithin the remote communication device 114.

Various embodiments described in this disclosure include computingdevices. FIG. 2 shows an example of a generic computing device 200intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such aslaptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers,blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. Computingdevice 200 is also intended to represent various forms of mobiledevices, such as personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here,their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant tobe examples only, and are not meant to limit implementations of thesubject matter described and/or claimed in this document.

In the exemplary embodiment, food preparation appliance 110 and remotecommunication device 114 (shown in FIG. 1) each include a computingdevice 200. Computing device 200 includes a bus 202, a processor 204, amain memory 206, a read only memory (ROM) 208, a storage device 210, aninput device 212, and output device 214, and a communication interface216. Bus 202 includes a path that permits communication among thecomponents of computing device 200.

Processor 204 includes any type of conventional processor,microprocessor, or processing logic that interprets and executesinstructions. Processor 204 can process instructions for executionwithin the computing device 200, including instructions stored in thememory 206 or on the storage device 210 to display graphical informationfor a GUI on an external input/output device, such as display 214coupled to a high speed interface. In other implementations, multipleprocessors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along withmultiple memories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices200 may be connected, with each device providing portions of thenecessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers,or a multi-processor system).

Main memory 206 may include a random access memory (RAM) or another typeof dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions forexecution by processor 204. ROM 208 may include a conventional ROMdevice or another type of static storage device that stores staticinformation and instructions for use by processor 204. Main memory 206stores information within the computing device 200. In oneimplementation, main memory 206 is a volatile memory unit or units. Inanother implementation, main memory 206 is a non-volatile memory unit orunits. Main memory 206 may also be another form of computer-readablemedium, such as a magnetic or optical disk.

The storage device 210 is capable of providing mass storage for thecomputing device 200. Storage device 210 may include a magnetic and/oroptical recording medium and its corresponding drive. In oneimplementation, the storage device 210 may be or contain acomputer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk device, a hard diskdevice, an optical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory orother similar solid state memory device, or an array of devices,including devices in a storage area network or other configurations. Acomputer program product can be tangibly embodied in an informationcarrier. The computer program product may also contain instructionsthat, when executed, perform one or more methods, such as thosedescribed above. The information carrier is a computer- ormachine-readable medium, such as main memory 206, ROM 208, the storagedevice 210, or memory on processor 204.

Input device 212 includes a conventional mechanism that permits computerdevice 200 to receive commands, instructions, or other inputs from auser, including visual, audio, touch, button presses, stylus taps, etc.Additionally, input device may receive location information.Accordingly, input device 212 may include, for example, a camera, amicrophone, one or more buttons, a touch screen, and/or a GPS receiver.Output device 214 may include a conventional mechanism that outputsinformation to the user, including a display (including a touch screen)and/or a speaker. Communication interface 216 may include anytransceiver-like mechanism that enables computing device 200 tocommunicate with other devices and/or systems. For example,communication interface 216 may include mechanisms for communicatingwith another device or system directly or via a network, such as network101 (shown in FIG. 1).

As described herein, computing device 200 facilitates the presentationof content, such as an instruction, along with one or more sets of othercontent, food appliance statistics and operations. Computing device 200may perform these and other operations in response to processor 204executing software instructions contained in a computer-readable medium,such as memory 206. A computer-readable medium may be defined as aphysical or logical memory device and/or carrier wave. The softwareinstructions may be read into memory 206 from another computer-readablemedium, such as data storage device 210, or from another device viacommunication interface 216. The software instructions contained inmemory 206 may cause processor 204 to perform processes describedherein. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions to implement consistent with theprinciples of the subject matter disclosed herein are not limited to anyspecific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The processor 204 can execute instructions within the computer device200, including instructions stored in the main memory 206. The processormay be implemented as chips that include separate and multiple analogand digital processors. The processor may provide, for example, forcoordination of the other components of the device 200, such as controlof user interfaces, applications run by device 200, and wirelesscommunication by device 200.

Computing device 200 may communicate wirelessly through communicationinterface 216, which may include digital signal processing circuitrywhere necessary. Communication interface 216 may provide forcommunications under various modes or protocols, such as GSM voicecalls, SMS, EMS, or MMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDS, WCDMA, CDMA2000, orGPRS, among others. Such communication may occur, for example, throughradiofrequency transceiver. In addition, short-range communication mayoccur, such as using a Bluetooth®, WiFi, or other such transceiver(s)(not shown). In addition, a GPS (Global Position system) receivingmodule may provide additional navigation- and location-related wirelessdata to device 200, which may be used as appropriate by applicationsrunning on device 200.

Turning to FIG. 3, the exemplary food preparation appliance 110 of FIG.1 is shown. The food preparation appliance 110 includes a base 310, anadaptor 320, a weight sensor 330, a motor 340, a computing device 200, acommunication component 350, and a display device 360. Althoughillustrated separately, communication component 350 may be part ofcomputing device 200, such as communication interface 216. A foodpreparation accessory 313 is coupled to the base 310. It is contemplatedthat some components illustrated in FIG. 3 may not be present in allembodiments of the food preparation appliance 110. In some embodiments,for example, the food preparation appliance 110 does not include one ormore of the display device 360, the communication component 350, and theweight sensor 330. Furthermore, as FIG. 3 is simply an illustration, itis contemplated that additional components not shown in FIG. 3, e.g.,gears, wires, controllers, etc., may be present in the food preparationappliance 110.

The base 310 of the food preparation appliance 110 is configured tohouse the motor 340, the computing device 200, and the communicationcomponent 350. The base 310 may be any appropriate shape, size, orconfiguration, such as generally rectangular or square. The base 310 maybe made from a variety of materials, such as but not limited to, moldedplastic, metal, and the like. The motor 340 may be located at anyappropriate position within the base 310. Additionally, computing device200 and the communication component 350 may be located at anyappropriate position within the base 310. The communication component350 will be described further herein. The motor may be used inconjunction with the adaptor 320 and with the food preparation accessory112 of FIG. 1, to blend food items.

The base 310 has a base bottom portion 312 and an opposite base topportion 314. The adaptor 320 is located proximate the base top portion314 of base 310 and is configured for coupling one or more accessories,such as the accessory 112 or 313, to the base 310. The adaptor 320 maybe of any appropriate shape, size, or configuration. The adaptor 320 hasan adaptor bottom portion 322 and an adaptor top portion 324. Theadaptor bottom portion 322 of adaptor 320 may be permanently orremovably attach to the base top portion 314 of the base 310. Theadaptor top portion 324 of adaptor 320 is configured to support a foodpreparation accessory, such as food preparation accessory 313. Moreparticularly, the adaptor top portion 324 of adaptor 320 may be designedto support a food preparation accessory such that the adaptor topportion 324 may be permanently or removably attached to the foodpreparation accessory.

The weight sensor 330 is located proximate the adaptor bottom portion322 of the adaptor 320 and is designed to detect a weight applied to theadaptor 320. In the exemplary embodiment, the weight sensor 330 ismechanically coupled to the adaptor 320. Alternatively, the weightsensor may be located at any location from which it can detect a weightapplied to the adaptor 320. The weight sensor 330 is configured togenerate a signal indicative or proportional to the weight applied tothe adaptor 320. In some embodiments, the computing device 200determines the weight that corresponds to the signal indicative of theweight applied to the adaptor. In other embodiments, the computingdevice 200 transmits the signal to another device, such as remotecommunication device 114, without determining the weight indicated bythe signal. The weight sensor may be any sensor capable of detecting aweight applied to, for example, the adaptor 320. In one exampleembodiment, the weight sensor 330 is a piezoelectric weight sensor. Itis understood, however, that in other embodiments a different type ofweight sensor that converts the load or force acting on it into anelectronic signal may be used. Additionally, it is contemplated that aweight may be measured and determined in various units of measurementssuch as, but not limited to, metric (grams) and imperial (ounces andpounds).

The communication component 350 is used to communicate various types ofinformation, such as a weight applied to the adaptor 320, to componentswithin and/or outside of system 100 of FIG. 1. The display device 360 isused to communicate and/or display various types of information, such asa weight applied to the adaptor 320, to a user. Each of thecommunication component 350 and the display device 360 is described infurther detail below.

Turning to FIG. 4, a functional block diagram of system 100 includes thefood preparation appliance 110, the remote communication device 114, andthe network 101 and the data store 102. The weight sensor 330, thecommunication component 350, and the display device 360 of the foodpreparation appliance 110 are illustrated in FIG. 4. The otherstructural components of the system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3, while stillincluded as part of system 100, are not shown in the functional diagramof FIG. 4.

The exemplary communication component 350 includes a communicationreceiving component 352, a communication determining component 354, anda communication transmitting component 356. Communication receivingcomponent 352 receives data from various components of the foodpreparation appliance 110, such as the weight sensor 330 and/or thedisplay device 360. The communication receiving component 352 receivesweight data from the weight sensor 330. Weight data may include, forexample, a signal that is proportional to a magnitude of the weightapplied to the adaptor 320. The communication receiving component 352may also receive various other types of data, such as operational data,statistical data, data from other sensors (not shown), etc. The examplecommunication determining component 354 is configured to determine aweight applied to the adaptor 320 based on the received signal from theweight sensor 330. Communication determining component 354 may alsodetermine a unit of measurement, such as grams or ounces, of the weightapplied to the adaptor 320. Communication transmitting component 356 isconfigured to send an indication of the determined weight to one or morecomponents and/or devices outside of food preparation appliance 110,such as the remote communication device 114 and/or the data store 102.Additionally, communication transmitting component 356 may be configuredto transmit an indication of the determined weight to one or morecomponents and/or devices within food preparation appliance 110, such asdisplay presentation component 368 of display device 360.

The display device 360 includes a display receiving component 362, adisplay determining component 364, a display output component 366, and adisplay presentation component 368. The display receiving component 362receives data from various components of food preparation appliance 110,such as the weight sensor 330, the communication component 350, and/orother sensors (not shown). The display receiving component 362 may alsoretrieve data from the data store 102.

In some embodiments, the display determining component 364 is configuredto determine a weight applied to the adaptor 320 based on receivedweight data. The display determining component 364 may also determine aunit of measurement, such as grams or ounces, of the weight applied tothe adaptor 320. The display output component 366 may be configured tosend an indication of the determined weight applied to the adaptor 320to one or more components and/or devices within food preparationappliance 110, such as display presentation component 368. Additionally,display output component may transmit, directly or via communicationcomponent 350, an indication of the determined weight to data store 102and/or remote communication device 114. The display presentationcomponent 368 may be configured to present the weight applied to theadaptor 320 to a user. The display presentation component 368 presentsthe weight applied to the adaptor 320 in various formats, including butnot limited to, audio and/or visual. The display presentation component368 may also present weight data, operational data, statistical data,and the like.

As described above, the remote communication device 114 may be a mobilephone, a computer tablet, a desktop computer, a television, a radio, apersonal digital assistance, a pager, and/or any other suitable device.The remote communication device 114 is configured to receive data, suchas mass data, operational data, and statistical data, from the foodpreparation appliance 110 and present an instruction based, at least inpart, on the received data. The remote communication device 114 includesan input component 412, a determining component 414, an output component416, and/or a presentation component 418. The input component 412 isconfigured to receive data from one or more components and/or deviceswithin food preparation appliance 110, such as the weight sensor 330,the communication component 350, and/or the display device 360. Moreparticularly, in some embodiments, the input component 412 may beconfigured to receive a signal from the weight sensor 330 that isproportional to a weight applied to the adaptor 320 (shown in FIG. 3).In additional embodiments, the input component 412 may be configured toreceive an indication of a weight applied to the adaptor 320 from thecommunication transmitting component 356 of the communication component350 and/or the display output component 366 of the display device 360.Additionally, the input component 412 may be configured to retrieve datafrom other various components within system 100, such as data store 102,and various components outside of system 100. In some embodiments, theinput component 412 retrieves recipe data. Recipe data may include, butis not limited to, recipes stored on the data store 102 and instructionsassociated with the recipes. An instruction associated with a recipe mayinclude a specific amount of each substance to be added at various timesthroughout the recipe. The specific amount of the substance may includea target weight and/or a target weight of the substance that may beapplied to a component, such as the adaptor 320 of FIG. 3. Additionally,in some aspects, remote communication device input component 412 may beconfigured to receive a selection of an item, such as a selection of arecipe, by a user.

The remote communication device determining component 414 is configuredto determine a weight applied to the adaptor 320 based on the weightdata. The remote communication device determining component 414 may alsodetermine a unit of measurement of the weight applied to the adaptor320. Additionally, the determining component 414 may be configured todetermine if the weight applied to the adaptor is substantially equal tothe target weight provided in an instruction. In some embodiments, afirst weight may be considered substantially equal to a target weightwhen the first weight is within a 5% margin of error of the targetweight. In additional embodiments, a margin of error may be between 5%and 15%. In yet further embodiments, a margin of error may be greaterthan 15%. In some embodiments, the determining component 414 isconfigured to determine if the weight applied to the adaptor is greaterthan the target weight provided in an instruction.

The remote communication device output component 416 is configured tosend a request to the remote communication device input component 412 toretrieve data based on determinations made by the remote communicationdevice determining component 414. For example, if the remotecommunication device determining component 414 determines that theweight applied to the adaptor is substantially equal to and/or greaterthan the target weight provided in the instruction, the remotecommunication device output component 414 may send a request to theremote communication device input component 412 to retrieve anotherinstruction. Additionally, the remote communication device outputcomponent 416 may be configured to send a request to the remotecommunication device display component 418 to display specific data,such as the target weight provided in the instruction, the weightapplied to the adaptor, operational data, statistical data, and/or theinstruction. The remote communication device output component 416 mayalso be configured to send data to the data store 102.

The remote communication device presentation component 418 is configuredto present data to a user in various formats, including by not limitedto, audio and/or visual formats. The remote communication devicepresentation component 418 may present a weight applied to the adaptor320, recipes, instructions associated with a recipe, the target weightprovided in the instruction, and the like.

The remote communication device 114 may be used in conjunction with thefood preparation appliance 110 to assist a user in making a food item.For example, a user may utilize the remote communication device 114 andthe food preparation appliance 110 to make a food item, such as a bananasmoothie. In such an example, the remote communication device inputcomponent 412 retrieves a banana smoothie recipe and an associated firstinstruction from the data store 102. The first instruction includes aspecific amount of milk to be added. Additionally, the first instructionincludes a first target weight of the milk to be added. Upon the milkbeing added to the food preparation accessory 112 located on the adaptor320 of the food preparation appliance 110, the weight sensor 330generates a signal indicative of the weight of milk. The weight sensor330 sends the signal to communication receiving component 352 of thecommunication component 350, the display receiving component 362 ofdisplay device 360, and/or data store 102.

Upon the communication receiving component 352 receiving the signal fromthe weight sensor 330, communication determining component 354determines the weight applied to the adaptor 320 and/or a unit ofmeasurement of the weight of milk applied to the adaptor 320. Thecommunication transmitting component 356 then sends an indication of thedetermined weight of the milk applied to the adaptor 320 to remotecommunication device input component 412 and/or the display presentationcomponent 368.

When the remote communication device input component 412 receives theindication of the weight of the milk, the remote communication devicedetermining component 414 determines if the weight of the milk issubstantially equal to the first target weight associated with the firstinstruction. If the weight of the milk is substantially equal to thefirst target weight, then the remote communication device outputcomponent 416 sends a request for the remote communication device inputcomponent 412 retrieve a second instruction. The second instruction maybe associated with the first instruction and be chronologically orderedaccording to the recipe. The remote communication device displaycomponent 418 displays the second instruction, which may be, forexample, an instruction to add a specific amount of bananas. As thisprocess is just an example, other methods, processes, and flows ofinformation are contemplated.

With reference to FIG. 5, a flow diagram is shown illustrating anexemplary method 500 for transmitting data associated with a weight, inaccordance with aspects of this disclosure. At 510, a signal that isproportional to the weight applied to an adaptor of a food preparationappliance is received. The weight applied to the adaptor of the foodpreparation appliance is determined at 512 based, at least in part, onthe signal. An indication of the weight applied to the adaptor of thefood preparation appliance is transmitted 514 to a remote communicationdevice.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 600 for displaying aninstruction. At 610, a first instruction is retrieved. The firstinstruction includes a first target weight of a first substance. Anindication from a food preparation appliance indicative of a weightapplied to an adaptor of the food preparation appliance is received at612. A determination that the weight applied to the adaptor of the foodpreparation appliance is substantially equal to the first target weightis made at 614. At 616, a second instruction associated with the firstinstruction and based on the determining that the weight applied to theadaptor of the food preparation appliance is substantially equal to thefirst target weight is transmitted. It is contemplated that severalinstructions, and/or as many instructions as necessary for a recipe orother instruction types may be displayed utilizing aspects describedherein.

An exemplary process of providing instructions is shown in FIG. 7. At710, a first instruction is retrieved by remote communication deviceinput component 412 from the data store 102. The first instructionincludes a first target weight of a first substance. At 712, the firstinstruction is transmitted by the remote communication device outputcomponent 416 to remote communication device presentation component 418.The first instruction is presented to a user at 714 by remotecommunication device presentation component 418. At 716, an indicationof a weight applied to the adaptor 320 of the food preparation appliance110 is received by remote communication device input component 412. Theindication may be received from the weight sensor 330, the communicationtransmitting component 356, and/or the display output component 366. Atblock 718, a determination that the weight applied to the adaptor 320 ofthe food preparation appliance 110 is substantially equal to and/orgreater than the first target weight is made by the remote communicationdevice determining component 416. At 720, the remote communicationdevice output component 416 sends a request to the remote communicationdevice input component 412 to retrieve a second instruction associatedwith the first instruction based, at least in part, on the determinationthat the weight applied to the adaptor 320 of the food preparationappliance 110 is substantially equal to and/or greater than the firsttarget weight. The remote communication device input component 412retrieves the second instruction at 722. The second instruction includesa second target weight of a second substance. At 724, the secondinstruction is transmitted by the remote communication device outputcomponent 416 to remote communication device presentation component 418.At block 726, the second instruction is presented to the user by remotecommunication device presentation component 418.

FIGS. 8A-8E illustrate exemplary displays on the remote communicationdevice 114 during an exemplary process for assisting a user in creatinga food dish utilizing the system 100. In FIG. 8A, the remotecommunication device 114 presents a variety of recipes for a user tochoose from. Upon a selection of at least one of the recipes, a list ofsubstances associated with the selected recipe and the amount of eachthat is required is presented to the user, as shown in FIG. 8B. When theuser selects to start the recipe, instructions are presented to the userto add the specific amounts of each substance. As the user adds a firstsubstance, such as bananas, an updated amount of the substance ispresented. For example, as shown in FIG. 8C, the user is instructed toadd three ounces of bananas and the current amount of bananas, i.e.,1.51 ounces of bananas, is displayed on the remote communication device114. When the user has provided the necessary amount of the firstsubstance, an option is presented to the user to continue to the nextinstruction. As shown in FIG. 8D, when the weight of the bananas issubstantially equal to and/or greater than the required 3 ounces, a nextingredient button is illuminated. When the user selects the nextingredient button, a second instruction is presented. For example, asshown in FIG. 8E, an instruction to add three ounces of milk ispresented. The system will continue to step the user through the recipeusing the portable deice 114 until the recipe is completed or the userselects to cancel the recipe.

Technical effects of the methods, systems, and computer-readable mediadescribed herein include at least one of: (a) receiving a signalproportional to the weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparationappliance; (b) determining the weight applied to the adaptor of the foodpreparation appliance based, at least in part, on the signal; and (c)transmitting an indication of the weight to the remote communicationdevice.

Additional technical effects of the methods, systems, andcomputer-readable media described herein include at least one of: (a)retrieving a first instruction, the first instruction including a firsttarget weight of a first substance; (b) receiving a measurement from afood preparation appliance indicative of a weight applied to an adaptorof the food preparation appliance; (c) determining that the weightapplied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance issubstantially equal to the target weight; and transmitting a secondinstruction associated with the first instruction and based on thedetermining that the weight applied to the adaptor of the foodpreparation appliance is substantially equal to the target weight.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

Although certain embodiments of this disclosure have been describedabove with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the artcould make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit of scope of this disclosure. All directionalreferences (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward,rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise,and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aidthe reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not createlimitations particularly as to the position, orientation or use of thedisclosure. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, andthe like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediatemembers between a connection of elements relative movement betweenelements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that twoelements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. Itis intended that all matter contained in the above description or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure as defined in the appendedclaims.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the variousversions, embodiment(s) or aspects thereof, the articles “a”, “an”,“the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or moreelements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intendedto be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements otherthan the listed elements. The use of terms indicating a particularorientation (e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “side”, etc.) is for convenience ofdescription and does not require any particular orientation of the itemdescribed.

As various changes could be made in the above without departing from thescope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A food preparation appliance comprising: a basecomprising: a housing with a top portion; and a motor contained withinthe housing; a food preparation accessory operably connected to themotor; an adaptor having: a bottom portion configured to be removablyattached to the top portion of the base of the food preparationappliance; and a top portion configured to receive and support the foodpreparation accessory thereon, wherein the food preparation accessory isremovable from the top portion of the adaptor; and a weight sensormechanically coupled to the bottom portion of the adaptor, the weightsensor configured to detect a weight applied to the adaptor by the foodpreparation accessory and to generate a weight signal proportional tothe weight applied to the adaptor by the food preparation accessory. 22.The food preparation appliance of claim 21, wherein the food preparationaccessory comprises multiple blades therein, the multiple blades of thefood preparation accessory being configured to be rotated by the motorat various speeds.
 23. The food preparation appliance of claim 21,further comprising: a processer configured to: receive the weight signalfrom the weight sensor; and determine the weight applied to the adaptorby the food preparation appliance based, at least in part, on the weightsignal.
 24. The food preparation appliance of claim 21, furthercomprising: a communication component configured to receive weight dataassociated with the weight detected by the weight sensor and to transmitthe weight data to a display device and a remote communication device.25. The food preparation appliance of claim 24, wherein thecommunication component is further configured to receive data, whereinthe data comprises at least one of a control signal for controllingoperation of the food preparation appliance and recipe data.
 26. Thefood preparation appliance of claim 25, wherein the recipe datacomprises at least one instruction to add a specific amount of aningredient to the food preparation appliance at a specific time, and thefood preparation appliance is configured to display the instructionbased on the specific time.
 27. The food preparation appliance of claim21, further comprising: a display device configured to: display theweight based on the weight data; and display a speed of the motor whenthe food preparation appliance is operating.
 28. The food preparationappliance of claim 21, wherein the food preparation appliance isconfigured to generate an audible signal based on the weight detected bythe weight sensor.
 29. The food preparation appliance of claim 21,wherein the food preparation appliance is a blender, a food processor,or a mixer.
 30. The food preparation appliance of claim 21, wherein thecommunication component includes at least one of a radio frequencytransceiver, a short-range communication device, a Wi-Fi transceiver, anear field communication (NFC) transceiver, and an infrared (IR)transceiver.
 31. A food preparation system comprising: a foodpreparation appliance comprising: a base having a housing with a topportion; a plurality of food preparation accessories; an adaptor having:a bottom portion configured to be removably attached to the top portionof the base; and a top portion configured to receive and support one ofthe plurality of food preparation accessories thereon, wherein the onefood preparation accessory thereon is removable from the top portion ofthe adaptor; a weight sensor coupled to the bottom portion of theadaptor and configured to detect a weight applied to the one foodpreparation accessory; and a communication component configured totransmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor toa remote communication device.
 32. The food preparation system of claim31, wherein the plurality of food preparation accessories are containerscapable of chopping, dicing, cutting, weighing, storing, heating,cooling, and/or maintaining a temperature of a food item placed therein.33. The food preparation system of claim 32, wherein the plurality offood preparation accessories comprise two or more blender containers,each blender container comprising multiple blades therein, the multipleblades of the blender container being configured to be rotated by amotor of the food preparation appliance at various speeds.
 34. The foodpreparation system of claim 31, further comprising: a remotecommunication device comprising: a display device; a processor; and amemory coupled to the processer, the memory configured to storeinstructions that when executed by the processor, cause the remotecomputing device to: display a first food preparation instructioncomprising a first target weight of a first substance; receive ameasurement from the food preparation appliance indicative of a weightof the first substance applied to the adaptor; determine when the weightof the first substance applied to the adaptor is substantially equal tothe first target weight; and display a second food preparationinstruction associated with the first food preparation instruction onthe display device when the weight applied to the adaptor issubstantially equal to the first target weight.
 35. The food preparationsystem of claim 34, wherein the instructions further cause the processorto receive recipe data from a data store.
 36. The food preparationsystem of claim 34, further comprising a data store that stores at leastone of measurements, weight data, weights, recipes, types of foodpreparation accessories, type of food items, types of liquids, errormessages, and maintenance data.
 37. A method for food preparation, themethod comprising: adding food to a food preparation accessary of a foodpreparation appliance, wherein the preparation appliance comprises: abase having a housing with a top portion; a food preparation accessory;an adaptor having: a bottom portion configured to be removably attachedto the top portion of the base; and a top portion configured to receiveand support one of the at least one food preparation accessoriesthereon, wherein the one food preparation accessory thereon is removablefrom the top portion of the adaptor; a weight sensor coupled to thebottom portion of the adaptor; and a communication component; receivinga weight signal proportional to a weight applied to the adaptor;determining the weight applied to the adaptor based, at least in part,on the weight signal detected by the weight sensor; and transmitting, bythe communication component, an indication of the weight to a displaydevice of the food preparation appliance, or a remote communicationdevice, or both.
 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:displaying an first instruction on a remote communication device,wherein the first instruction includes a first target weight of a firstsubstance.
 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising: receiving ameasurement from the food preparation appliance indicative of a weightof the first substance applied to the adaptor; and determining when theweight of the first substance applied to the adaptor is substantiallyequal to the first target weight.
 40. The method of claim 39, furthercomprising: displaying a second instruction associated with the firstinstruction, wherein the second instruction includes a second targetweight of a second food substance.